Gamblesby can be explored through three specific themes: the village green and its red sandstone houses, the local history of churches and chapels, and walks in the hilly surrounding area. This combination is appealing for a stay if you would like to combine village history and landscape. The central area of the village was designated a “conservation area” on 1 December 1994. Gamblesby lies just inside the boundary of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The hilly landscape between the Lakeland Fells and the North Pennines, together with its location below the Hartside Escarpment, gives the village a distinctive landscape setting.

Village Green and Churches

The village green is surrounded by 18th-century red sandstone buildings. A historic set of stocks stands on it, probably dating from the late 17th century. According to local tradition, its last use was to punish someone for stealing a turnip. The village green therefore brings together a specific historical feature and a local story whose origins are explicitly based on tradition.

The history of the local churches and chapels also spans different periods. John Wesley visited Gamblesby several times from 1749 onwards. The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built in 1784 and replaced by a new chapel on the same site in 1864. St John’s Church has its own ecclesiastical classification: it was an Anglican chapel of ease belonging to St Michael’s in Addingham, meaning a chapel associated with that church. St John’s was built in 1868 in the late 13th-century style. Wesley’s visits, the rebuilding of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and the building history of St John’s are distinct aspects of the village’s history.

Hilly Landscape and Walking Routes

For planning a walk, there are both connections between villages and a named circular route. A network of footpaths links Gamblesby with other villages in the valley. The “Gamblesby & Hartside” circular route starts in the village centre near the village stocks and follows older tracks and paths along the slopes of Gamblesby Fell to the Hartside Café. Before setting out, check the condition of the route and whether the Hartside Café is open.

The two walking options differ in their routes: the footpath network links Gamblesby with other villages in the valley, while the circular route starts in the village and leads to the Hartside Café. This lets you choose between a connection through the valley and a specifically named circular walk when planning your trip, without assuming a walking time or distance.

There is also a specific route for cyclists: the C2C cycling route passes through Gamblesby. For walking, the focus is on the valley footpath network and the “Gamblesby & Hartside” circular route; for cycling, the C2C offers a separate way to include the village in a route. Village history, landscape and the different routes offer a range of options to help you choose the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Applethwaite, Ambleside, Grange Over Sands, Eskdale, Killington, Workington, Silloth, Penruddock

For the overall travel guide: Cumbria.